Cigar lighter



40- H. G. LEHMANN 2,224,033

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 9, 1937 AT NEY Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER Application June 9, 1937, Serial No. 147,207

7 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters, and more particularly to lighters of the automatic type.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic lighter which functions in a positive and reliable manner at all times. In carrying out this object I have provided a cigar lighter having an improved circuit control characterized mainly by a manually operable snap switch having positive open-circuit and closedcircuit positions, and by automatically operative means for opening the switch after a predetermined elapse of time. In the embodiment shown the automatically operative means functions in response to heat from the heating element, and this means is advantageously placed entirely and directly above the heating element and joined thereto in heat-conducting relation so that it responds readily to heat therefrom.

A feature of this circuit control is that it is possible to manually hold the switch in closed position regardless of the condition of the automatic switch opener, should it be desired to overenergize the heating element or reheat it again before the switch opener resumes its initial normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter of the removable igniting unit type wherein the unit is particularly easy to replace after it has been used. In the embodiment of the invention shown, sloping walls are provided on the removable igniting unit and on the holding device, and the shape and slope of the walls r is such that easy replacement is possible, yet a snug fit is obtained when the igniting unit reaches its final storage position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter which may be secured in place at the front of an instrument panel without requiring any holes to be drilled therein, and which will be unobtrusive and attractive, and will not project any appreciable extent from the face of the panel.

45 Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lighter of the above type which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lighter.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lighter, secured to an instrument panel.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the lighter.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the lighter taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the switch being in closed-circuit position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the lighter taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an inside elevation of one of the casing plates of the igniting unit.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but with the switch thrown to open-circuit position under the action of the thermostat.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the toggle spring support.

As shown, the present improved lighter comprises a holding device, broadly designated by the numeral ID, to which electric current is supplied, and a removable igniting unit ll carrying a heating element l2 which is energized by the current to become incandescent for lighting smokers articles.

The holding device In includes a metal shell I3 having at its lower rear portion a rearwardly extending bracket I4 carrying a screw H) by means of which it is secured to the panel IG (see Fig. 2). The body of the igniting unit ll comprises a pair of matched plates l1 and I8 secured together by screws and nuts as shown, and adapted to fit within the shell l3.

According to the present invention the holding device I0 and igniting unit II are shaped so that the latter may be replaced in the holder with considerable ease, yet so that when these parts are finally positioned relatively to each other a firm and secure engagement is had. For this purpose the shell 13 of the holding device, which is preferably box-like in shape, is made with sloping side walls I9, and the body of the igniting unit has side edges 20 correspondingly inclined. The shell I3 is open at both the top and bottom, and the slope of the side walls It] is such that the top opening is much larger than the bottom opening. Likewise the slope of the edges 20 of the igniting unit is such that the lower end 2| of said unit is much smaller than the upper portion 22 thereof, and therefore much smaller than the opening at the top of the shell l3.

Therefore, after the igniting unit II has been removed and used, it can be easily replaced in the holder since the lower end 2| of the unit need not be fitted closely to the opening of the holding device in order for it to enter. Only an approximate locating of the recess in the shell I3 is needed, since after initial entry of the bottom of the unit the sloping walls will guide the latter until it finally properly comes to rest in the storage position shown in the figures.

Preferably the back portion of the shell |3 is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending lip 23 shaped so that its upper edge engages the panel [6, thus presenting a sloping surface to further provide for easy replacement of the unit The lip 23 spaces the shell l3 from the panel, and in order to maintain proper positioning of the parts the bracket I4 is provided with a shoulder 24 adapted to engage the lower front edge of the panel and similarly space the shell l3 therefrom.

It will be noted that the shell I3 is flat in shape, as is the igniting unit H, and therefore these do not protrude unnecessarily from the front of the panel l6, but lie closely adjacent same. Also, by means of the bracket I4 the lighter can be mounted on the panel in this non-protruding position without drilling any mounting holes.

The holding device II) is adapted to supply current to the heating element |2 of the igniting unit, and for this purpose the shell I3 is preferably made of metal, so that it will serve as the ground return of the circuit, this return being through the bracket l4 which is in electrical engagement with the grounded panel l6. Also, the bracket l4 has lanced therefrom 21. depending arm 25 which is apertured to insulatedly carry a stud 26 connected with a wire 21 and supporting a spring contact finger 28a extending upwardly through an opening in the rear wall of the shell I3. The finger 26a and shell |3 thus constitute a pair, of contacts for conducting current to the igniting unit, I and heating element l2.

According to. the present invention there is provided an improved automatic switch for controlling the circuit through the heating element, and it is at present preferred to incorporate this switch in the igniting unit II. For this purpose the plates Hand |8 are recessed at their inner faces as shown so that when placed together the recesses form a chamber within the igniting unit. The improved switch control is characterized by a positive snap action, so that it has positive open-circuit and closed-circuit positions, and so that breaking of the circuit is accomplished by a quick separation of the breaking contacts to reduce arcing to a minimum. g

Referring to Figs. 4 and '7, this improved circuit controlincludes a pair of toggle bars 28 linked together, at 23 and pivotally carried at their other ends by pins 30 secured to the ends of a. U-shaped spring support 3|. The toggle bars 28are provided with small contact nibs 32 adapted to engage respectively the ends of the bimetallic contact strip 33 which latter is secured at itscenter to the side wall of a metal cup 34 carrying a spiral heating coil 35. The plates I1 and i8 of the igniting unit are provided with matching circular apertures Ha, see'Fig. 6, andthe cup 34 .is provided with a shoulder 34a, to position same in the apertures Ia. The face of the heating coil 35 is thus presented at theiront of the igniting unit II and exposed for use. I Y

The upper end of the coil 35 is secured to the cup 34 and bimetallic strip 33 by a pin or rivet as shown in Fig. 7, and for the purpose of supporting' the toggle bars engaging this strip, the U- shaped spring support 3| is provided with apertures in its baseto receive rivets 36 by means of which it is secured to the top of the igniting unit I In order to provide a snap action to the toggle bars, the legs of thesupport 3| are biased in-' wardly towardeach otherso that the bars 28 will be urged either against the bimetallic strip 33 to engage same, as in Fig. 4, or away from said strip to disengage it, as in Fig. 7. The U-shaped support 3| is connected with a spring contact finger 31 fastened under one of the rivets 36, said finger extending through an aperture 38 in one of the sloping edges of the igniting unit to engage the sloping wall I9 of the shell l3. The inner end of the heating coil 35 is connected to a stud 39 which is insulatedly mounted in the bottom of the cup 34 to extend through same for engagement by the spring contact finger 26a.

When the toggle bars are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the circuit through the heating element will be completed, and current will flow through the wire 21, stud 26, contact 26a, stud 39, heating coil 35, bimetallic strip 33, toggles 28, U-shaped support 3|, contact finger 31, shell I3 and grounded instrument panel IS.

The bimetallic strip I3 is adapted to flex upwardly in response to heat from the coil 35, and in doing this it will urge the toggle bars 28 until they are moved past dead center position whereupon they will snap upwardly to the position of Fig. '7, opening the circuit. For the purpose of manually actuating the bars 28 to close the circuit there is provided a push button or plunger 43 slidably carried in a suitable recess 4| in the top edge-of the igniting unit The plunger 4|! has a reduced shank 42 which is secured to a spring finger 43 lanced from the base of the U- shaped support 3|. This finger is biased upwardly so that the plunger is normally yieldingly retained in its extended position as shown in the figures.

Should it bedesired at any time to energize the heating coil even though the toggle bars 28 have been thrown upwardly past dead center position by the bimetallic strip 33 this can be readily accomplished by merely depressing the plunger 40. Thus, if after, receiving an initial light from the igniting unit, it is desired to reenergize same forv another light, this can be accomplished regardless of whether or not the bimetallic strip 33 has cooled off sufficiently to return to normal position.

If desired, the front wall of the shell [3 may beapertured and a lens'44 secured in place so that the incandescence of the coil 35 may be observed.

' Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

' 1. In acigar lighter, a holding device comprising a hollow casing having a front wall with an aperture therein; a lens in said aperture; an igniting unitcarr'ied in the casing and completely removable therefrom for use; a heating element carried by theigniting unit and facing towards the lens of the holding device; electrical circuit means from theholding device to the heating element; -means for controlling saidcircuit, .including a snap switch adapted to spring to either closed-circuit or open-circuit position from an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium, and including manually operable means carried by said igniting unit for throwing the switch to closed-circuit position without attendant movement of the igniting unit, and automatically operative means carried by said heating element and forming a part of said circuit means for throwing the switch to open-circuit'position after a predetermined elapse oi time from closing of the switch to heat the element.

2. In a cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be supported in a holding device, comprising a heating element; a body to which the heating element is secured; a pair of contacts; electrical circuit means from said contacts to the heating element; means for controlling said circuit, including a snap switch carried by the body, comprising a pair of toggle bars, spring means associated therewith, and a bimetallic contact carried by said heating element adapted to directly engage at least one of said bars, and including manually operable means for throwing the bars to engage the bimetallic contact so that the circuit through the element is closed without attendant movement of the igniting unit, said con tact being adapted to respond to heating caused by the current to move the bars away from it whereby the spring means snaps the bars out of contact with the bimetallic contact so that the circuit through the element is opened.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which the snap switch can be held closed by the manually operable means regardless of the condition of the automatically operative switch-opening means.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the snap switch includes a toggle mechanism for holding the switch in either of its positions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the snap switch includes a toggle mechanism for holding the switch in either of its positions, and the automatically operative means includes a bimetallic element heated in response to the heating of the heating element and flexing to act on the toggle mechanism to move the switch into open-circuit position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the automatically operative means for throwing the switch includes a thermo-responsive element heated in response to the heating of the heating element and operating to throw the snap switch into open-circuit position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said switch includes at least a pair of contacts of opposite polarity; toggle means associated with the contact of one polarity for moving the same to and holding the same in one of two alternate positions; and the automatically operative means includes a bimetallic strip adapted to flex in response to heat from the heating element to move the toggle means and contacts into opencircuit position when the heating element reaches a predetermined desired temperature.

HERBERT G. LEHMANN. 

